Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-01
A NOTED J0URNALIsT AS A LAND
BOOMER.

We are able to state upon competent
authority that the articles which have re-
Gently appeared in the New York Herald
denouncing the boom in Southern Califor-
MIA are from the pen Of journalist Of
national reputation, one who has hereto
fore contributed largely to the develop
ment of the section of the State which he
now denounces. These articles, as is well
known to such readers as have followed
them, are tempered by encouraging, If not
flattering, reference to the Ensenada colony
scheme in Lower California. To such Of our
readers as may not be familiar with the
geography of the country in question, it
may be stated that Ensenada is about
sixty-fve miles south of San Diego; that
a land company purchased land grant in
the vicinity, located a town on Ensenada
bay, and are endeavcring to create on be-
half of the lands in the vicinity the
same speculative interest which has
sent town property up to $4,000
4 front foot in Los Angeles, and common
agricultural land up to $1,000 an acre in
Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San
Diego counties. Against that rise in
values which proceeds from growth in any
portion of any State, the RECoRD-UNIoN
has no objection to offer. Against that
species of speculation which initiates the
value of real estate beyond all relation
to true values the RECoRD-UNIoN en-
tiers its most earnest protest. No greater
misfortune can overtake any country than
such an imitation. Its reactionary effect,
which is sure to follow, will necessarily be
disastrous to every interest, and its collapse
will carry down with it into ruin innocent,
unsuspecting and confding people who
have been the victims of real estate sharp
ers, and who deserve the sincere pity ofall.
We have entertained many apprehensions
concerning the perpetuation Of the in
fiated process at Los Angeles, apprehensions
which connect themselves with the steady
growth and permanent prosperity of this
State. We do not believe that the 10000
acres Immediately adjoining Los Angeles,
which have been divided into town lots,
can maintain town-site values with less
than two millions of population. Careful
examination of all the facts from sufficient
data convinces us that whatever land
leaves the category of agricultural land, or
land devoted to the productions of the soil,
and enters the category of town-site prop
erty, or land wherein the value is depend
ent upon its prospective use as space upon
the surface of the earth, that it requires at
least twenty persons to the acre to main
tain such values; or, to place these fig
ures in different form, twenty thousand
people will maintain town-site valuation
upon a TOWNSHIP area equal to one thou
sand acres. Here, in our own city of Sacra-
mento, town-site property valuations are
maintained upon this basis. In San
Francisco, city of 100000 inhabitants,
TOWNSHIP values are maintained over an
area equal to $4,000 acres. Similar COM
putations with reference to other cities
and towns in California, cities in the East
ern States. and even the city of London,
have been made, and the results obtained
Justify the erection of the standard of
twenty persons to the acre. The Getty" OF
San Diego embraces nearly 10000 acres.
Applying the computation of twenty
persons to the acre, 100000 in-
habitants will be required to main
tain town site property values over
this vast extent of land. Every earnest,
sober and patriotic consideration urges Il
protest against this condition. 1t cannot
result otherwise than disastrously to the
best and truest interests of the people of
this State. 1t is being promoted unques-
tionably by real estate boomers, brokers
and agents who have personal, pecuniary
motives in view. On the other hand, the
attempt to destroy the real value of prop
erty in Los Angeles, San Diego and San
Bernardino counties, by parties interested
in Mexican colony, is fully as reprehen-
sible as the most scoundrelly real estate
scheme ever founded in falsehood and per-
petrated in fraud. The worst phase of the
Heralfs attempt to break up property
o., = Il,
played by the Associated Press dispatches.
Day by day the statements of the Herald
correspondent have been spread broadcast
ever the United States by the Associated
Press. The inquiry naturally arises, Who
is responsible for this? If it be true, as is
alleged on competent authority that the
Herald correspondent owns Thousand
acres of land at Ensenada. his object in
diverting attention from Southern Cali
fornia to the colony in which he is inter
ested is no; far to seek; but by what means
he has been able TO enlist every agent of
the Associated Press in the United States
in the furtherance of his scheme is
an inquiry in which every publisher
OF Associated Press news is interested.
1t is, therefore, a legitimate subject
of inquiry, both on behalf of such pub
fishers, and ON behalf of the public. and
we institute that inquiry now. So far as
the special dispatches to the California As
ISOLATED Press are concerned, the means of
preventing their prostitution to purpose
of this kind are within easy reach,
but the indiscriminate and injurious
use of the statements of the Her
aid correspondent made by the agents
of the Associated Press of New York, and
especially by the representatives of the
Western Associated Press at Chicago, and
the motive underlying such use, are sub
ects of legitimate inquiry on the part oil
every customer of these Associations.
We cannot accept as even probable the